present and future wants of the city cannot be obtained. This Committee drafted an Act for the Legislature to pass, which was approved by the Common Council, and presented to the Legislature in the session of 1832, but failed in becoming a law. That Act provided for the appointment of a Board of Commissioners of three persons, by the Common Council, to superintend the execution of the plan and make contracts for introducing water into the city of New- York.

* This report was from the pen of Samuel Stevens, Esq.

In November, 1832, a report was made by Timothy Dewey and William Serrell to Benjamin Wright, Esq. They had examined the sources of the Bronx River and other streams, and the practicability of introducing the water of the Croton by connecting it with the Sawmill and Bronx Rivers; --they did not consider possible it to bring the Croton

water to mingle with those of the aforesaid rivers without the aid of expensive machinery, from the great height it

would be necessary to elevate the water. They finally

recommended the Bronx as a sufficient source, with some artificial reservoirs, to answer all the city purposes.

The frightful ravages of the cholera, during the summer of 1832, gave to the subject of a supply of pure water a deeper interest, and the minds of the citizens were again aroused to the importance of it. The Committee of the Board of Aldermen, on " Fire and Water," James Palmer, chairman, pursued the subject with energy ; exhibiting on